Bravery Network Online
- February 16, 2021
- GLOAM
"Bravery Network Online" is a turn-based tactical RPG set in a vibrant, futuristic world. Players build and customize a team of heroes, each with unique abilities and personalities, to battle in strategic turn-based combat. The game features online multiplayer, allowing players to test their skills against others in PvP matches or team up in co-op mode. Explore the world of Gloam, uncover secrets, and level up your team in this immersive and engaging gaming experience.
Reviews
- The game features amazing character designs, a charming art style, and a fun soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Bravery Network Online offers a competitive turn-based battle system that eliminates RNG elements, making it accessible and enjoyable for players who appreciate strategy.
- The community is welcoming and supportive, with active developers who engage with players and respond to feedback, fostering a sense of camaraderie.
- The game has been abandoned by developers, with servers down for an extended period, rendering it unplayable and leading to disappointment among players.
- There is a lack of content and player base, making online matches difficult to find, which diminishes the multiplayer experience.
- The requirement for an internet connection even for single-player content is frustrating, especially when the servers are no longer operational.
- gameplay50 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Bravery Network Online" is highly praised for its solid mechanics, deep strategic elements, and engaging team-building aspects, drawing strong comparisons to competitive Pokémon battles while introducing unique features like the battery system and captain's plan. Players appreciate the charming character designs and art style, alongside the polished execution of its turn-based combat, although some note a desire for more single-player content. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy competitive RPGs and strategic gameplay.
“The core gameplay is very good, and the singleplayer so far is well-written (though short at the moment).”
“An absolute gem of a game that takes everything that is fun about Pokémon-style battles, innovates on the format with some really interesting mechanics that aren't just gimmicks, and puts it in a really fun setting with amazing character designs.”
“Bravery Network Online is a stylish and rather polished game that takes the gameplay/team comp aspect of competitive Pokémon and turns it into a deep build-based online battler with no microtransactions to speak of, lots of earnable customizations, and no RNG.”
“It doesn't explore actual fighting mechanics or anything.”
“If you don't like the gameplay of Pokémon, as far as turn-based RPG battles go, you're not going to like this.”
“Players can't even see what effect the flourish mechanic will have on their action unless they hold down shift to reveal it; which both requires players to reveal it every single time and also requires players to press shift despite this game being otherwise playable with mouse only.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming and unique art style, which features vibrant character designs and a cozy aesthetic that resonates with players. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend fun visuals with deep gameplay mechanics, creating an engaging experience that is both visually appealing and thematically rich, particularly in its representation of diverse characters. Overall, the graphics are described as gorgeous and well-executed, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Fantastic art style, good gameplay, and super charming characters - highly recommended to pick this up if you're in the market for a competitive team building RPG.”
“Gorgeous artwork that exploits every inch of screen space, and an active development team you can talk to.”
“The art style and the soundtrack is incredible.”
“It's an aesthetic that's not going to appeal to everyone, but it's undeniable that it's unique and well executed - and for a title that borrows so much from another well-established game, having a distinct panache is important.”
“While a spiritual successor to it, it stands on its own two feet with its fresh and unique aesthetic and combat mechanics.”
“Gameplay like Pokémon, and a soft and easy to look at art style.”
- story28 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by a charming and witty narrative set in a vibrant sci-fi world, featuring distinct characters with their own backstories. While the single-player story mode is relatively short and can be completed in one to two hours, players appreciate the engaging dialogue and unique character quests that add depth to the gameplay. However, some users express disappointment over the lack of content and updates, leading to a desire for a more fleshed-out story experience.
“Love the aesthetic and the soundtrack, adore how unapologetically gay and trans this cast of brave fighters is, really look forward to seeing the story be expanded over time.”
“The dialogue in the game is funny and witty, and the story had me hooked line and sinker as it weaves a world all its own, instead of relying on telling variations of the same story over and over like Pokémon does.”
“The combat system is varied without being over-complex, the characters are an absolute joy, the story scenes are delightful, and I've had an excellent time with this game so far.”
“There's so little story, so little to do.”
“I'm just waiting for a fleshed out story since I don't like online play.”
“Servers are dead, can't even access story mode content and the Discord can't be accessed. Devs can't be reached either; there's no reason for this game to still be up and cost money if you can't even play it.”
- music25 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its charm and quality, with many reviewers highlighting its catchy electronic and lo-fi beats that enhance the overall experience. While the soundtrack is generally well-received, some players noted that it can become repetitive over time and expressed a desire for more variety and transitioning songs. Overall, the music, alongside the art style and character design, contributes significantly to the game's unique aesthetic and appeal.
“The music and sound effects felt wonderful.”
“The music is awesome and the art is super cute.”
“The thing that I think will draw a lot of people to this game is its sense of style - a combination of its funky soundtrack, stellar writing, and phenomenal art direction all give the game a very well-defined sense of self.”
“Otherwise my only complaint is that there needs to be more music and/or transitioning songs, as looping songs eventually wear on me in competitive games. Here, everything is like chill hip hop beats to relax versus Pokémon intense battle themes, which is nice for a change.”
“General music needs a bit more variance to it.”
“The music is ok.”
- character development13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its exceptional character designs, engaging personalities, and well-crafted backstories, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in character aesthetics and interactions, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive community. The combination of charming art style, music, and strategic gameplay further elevates the characters, making them memorable and integral to the game's appeal.
“Great game, with amazing character designs, ideas, and personality.”
“Solid core gameplay and fantastic character design, music, and backstory.”
“Highly strategic and deterministic turn-based combat, great character designs, a charming story with an interesting world behind it, and deeply variable team composition.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which diminished my overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The interactions between characters are often one-dimensional, leaving little room for meaningful growth or change.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and wit, with distinct and likable characters contributing to a funny and engaging narrative. Players appreciate the clever dialogue and unique storytelling that set it apart from typical Pokémon games, while the lighthearted tone and whimsical elements enhance the overall experience. The writing is highlighted as a standout feature, effectively blending humor with compelling worldbuilding.
“The characters are all distinct and likable, the humor is on point; there's a woman who flies around on an orb—what's not to love?”
“I like how everything is explained, including duplicate heroes, and how the game uses humorous dialogues and UI-based cutscenes to introduce you to the rather intricate sci-fi world.”
“The standout here is the writing; this game is super funny, while also having some compelling worldbuilding—but both of these things are executed with a lot of restraint.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the reduced emphasis on grinding in this game, as it allows for a more streamlined experience where they can freely adjust their teams and focus on strategy without the burden of extensive grinding or RNG. While some grinding elements remain, particularly in competitive play, the overall design promotes personal progression and experimentation, making for a satisfying gameplay experience.
“No grinding needed; just right to the meat of the strategy, and it's really satisfying to play.”
“Instead of having to spend hours grinding out specific encounters or dumping piles of in-game cash for stat boosters and/or move items, you can adjust these things freely in your teambuilder.”
“Tl;dr there are no arbitrary barriers between you and playing this game 'properly', allowing you to freely play, compete, and experiment without punishing you with massive grinding.”
“Grinding hasn't completely disappeared though.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be significant, highlighting the wholesome and welcoming community that fosters a sense of belonging. The creators' passion is evident, and the inclusion of emotional stats for characters adds depth to the gameplay experience.
“I'm normally pretty daunted by the competitive scene of video games, but this community is so wholesome and welcoming; you can tell the creators have put so much passion into this game.”
“Characters have attack and defense stats related to the three types of attacks: physical, digital, and emotional.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its rich style and artistic character designs, complemented by an engaging musical score that enhances the overall experience.
“Absolutely dripping with atmosphere and style.”
“The art and unique appearances of all the different characters are absolutely fantastic, with decently atmospheric music as well.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the game's strong design significantly contributes to its longevity and replay value, making it an experience worth revisiting.
“This game is very well designed, and that more than anything else will give it a ton of longevity and replay value.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Bravery Network Online features a player-friendly monetization model, offering a polished experience without microtransactions. Players can earn various customizations through gameplay, ensuring a fair and engaging environment free from random elements.
“Bravery Network Online is a stylish and polished game that transforms the gameplay and team composition aspects of competitive Pokémon into a deep build-based online battler with no microtransactions, plenty of earnable customizations, and no RNG.”
“Bravery Network Online is a stylish and polished game, but the monetization model is frustrating. It feels like the developers are more focused on squeezing money out of players than providing a fair gaming experience.”
“The game has potential, but the aggressive monetization tactics ruin the enjoyment. It's hard to focus on gameplay when you're constantly bombarded with prompts to spend money.”
“While the gameplay is engaging, the monetization system feels exploitative. It often feels like you need to pay to compete, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong optimization, with users noting that it runs smoothly and remains stable since its early access release, while the core mechanics are well-developed.
“As of the early access release, the core mechanics are great, the game is stable and runs smoothly.”